Northern Irish comedian Jimmy Cricket, whose career spanned decades and was marked by his distinctive catchphrases and humor, has died at the age of 80. His family announced his passing on Monday, following a short illness.
Cricket, born James Joseph Mulgrew in Cookstown, County Tyrone, rose to prominence in the 1970s. He was known for his signature phrases, including "And there's more!" and "Come closer!", and for his comedic act of wearing Wellington boots with the 'L' and 'R' labels on the wrong feet. He had been scheduled to embark on a tour in the autumn, but a note on his website indicated he needed to take a "sabbatical for health reasons and have started treatment."
His family released a statement describing him as their "forever clown" and a "force for joy." They noted his "courage, dignity and positivity" during his illness, stating he was "cracking jokes to the wonderful NHS staff and to us all, right until the end."
Cricket's career began as a Butlin's Redcoat. He was a devoted husband to May for 52 years and a father to four children and grandfather to four grandchildren. His humor brought happiness to audiences on stage, screen, and radio.
Fellow comedian Freddie Davies, a friend of Cricket's, recalled working with him, describing him as a "delight" and a "true funny bones comic." Davies also noted Cricket's attendance at a Ken Dodd memorial lunch in December, where he reportedly had the audience in laughter.
In 2015, Cricket received the Roman Catholic Church's highest honor, a papal knighthood, from Pope Francis, an achievement he described as a "blessing."
He is survived by his wife, children, and grandchildren. The family concluded their statement with a nod to his faith and catchphrase, suggesting that for him, "death is not the end and was looking forward to eternity, so really…And there’s more."